MTS File Format (.mts)
An MTS file holds the same BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream as M2TS, written under the extension the AVCHD standard assigns to footage recorded straight onto a camcorder's memory card.
MTS at a glance#
| Full name | AVCHD Transport Stream |
|---|---|
| File extension | .mts |
| Category | Video Files |
| Developer | Sony and Panasonic |
| First released | 2006 |
| MIME types | video/mp2t |
| Compression | Lossy |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads and writes this format |
What a .mts file can hold#
These are the things a MTS file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Lossless compression | No |
|---|---|
| Embedded metadata | No |
| Audio | Yes |
| Video | Yes |
| Subtitle tracks | No |
| Chapters | No |
| Encryption | No |
| Streaming | Yes |
Strengths and limitations of MTS#
What MTS does well
- Records H.264 video with Dolby AC-3 or uncompressed PCM audio at bitrates consumer camcorders can sustain onto an SD card while shooting
- Uses the same timestamped BDAV transport stream as Blu-ray, so authoring a disc straight from camcorder footage needs no re-encoding
- Every clip carries its own recording timestamp inside the stream, which editing software uses to sort and sync footage from multiple cameras
- Widely supported by consumer camcorder editing software, since AVCHD has been the standard tape-free recording format since 2006
Where MTS falls short
- The extension exists mainly because the AVCHD camcorder specification named it that way; the underlying stream is otherwise the Blu-ray BDAV format
- Video editing software often wants an MTS rewrapped into MP4 or MOV before scrubbing and rendering perform well
- High-bitrate 1080p or 4K MTS footage produces large files fast, since AVCHD favors quality over compression efficiency for handheld recording
- Some consumer players and phones don't recognize the extension even though they can decode the H.264 video inside it
Keep footage as MTS straight off a camcorder while it's only being copied or archived, since re-encoding at that stage only costs quality for no benefit.
Convert MTS to MP4 before editing or sharing camcorder footage, since most editors and every modern device handle MP4 more smoothly than the camcorder's native transport stream.
How to open a .mts file#
A .mts file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts MTS into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | VLC, Adobe Premiere Elements, CyberLink PowerDirector |
| macOS | VLC, iMovie, Final Cut Pro |
| Linux | VLC, mpv |
| Web | FileFlip |
MTS questions people ask#
What produces an MTS file?
MTS files come off consumer and prosumer camcorders recording in the AVCHD format, made by Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and others since 2006. The camera writes each clip into the memory card's AVCHD folder structure with the .MTS extension.
Why won't my MTS file import into my video editor?
Some editors read the AVCHD folder structure a camcorder card uses but choke on an MTS file copied out on its own, and others simply don't ship the H.264 decoder settings AVCHD needs. Copying the whole camera folder in through the editor's dedicated camera-import feature, or converting the MTS to MP4 first, usually clears it up.
What's the difference between MTS and M2TS?
Nothing in the stream itself. Both are the same BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream; MTS is the extension the AVCHD camcorder standard uses for footage on a memory card, while M2TS is the extension Blu-ray Disc authoring and playback software uses for the same structure once it's on a disc.
What should I convert MTS to?
Convert MTS to MP4 for editing and playback outside camcorder-specific software. It carries the same H.264 video without the AVCHD packaging that trips up general-purpose editors and players.
Converting MTS files#
Convert MTS to another format
Convert another format to MTS
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.